How A One Armed Student Learns Martial Arts

Bobby lost his left arm because of a childhood illness, but it didn’t slow him down. He rode bikes, was athletic, and did everything a child is supposed to do, except for one. He never did the martial arts, he assumed that that was one activity he would never be able to do.

When a martial arts dojo opened up in his neighborhood, however, he could not stop thinking about it. He would pass by slowly, staring at the kids working out inside. He would ask his friends who studied martial arts endless questions, but he never went inside the dojo because he knew that there was no way he could do that physical discipline.

One day a friend of his invited him to the training hall to witness a demonstration. Bobby went, and watched, and sadness ate at his heart like a weedwacker chews weeds. After the demonstration, Bobby met the instructor, who invited him to study the martial arts.

“I don’t see how I could,” observed Bobbie, “since I only have a right arm.” The instructor grinned and said that having one arm wasn’t a problem. He said that anything is possible to a man with a whole heart.

So Bobbie began his lessons in the ancient martial arts. He committed himself to the practice like a starving man attacks a plate of food, and he made good progress. Unfortunately, the instructor, while he would show Bobby all the moves, would only let him drill on one specific technique.

Day after day, week after week, Bobbie concentrated on learning this one technique. Dutifully, he worked out the problems with his execution until he could do the technique as smooth as silk. Still, the instructor would not let him move on to other techniques.

One day, the instructor came up to Bobbie and said, “I’ve put you in a tournament.” Bobbie was flabbergasted, he just knew he was going to be beaten like a dirty rug and tossed like yesterday’s salad. Still, his instructor believed in him, so he went to the contest.

He faced his first opponent, and when that foe charged, he used the one technique and won the match. And he used that one technique to defeat a second fellow, and then a third one. When the end of tournament came, Bobbie had his division!

The next day Bobbie thanked his instructor. “The thing I don’t understand,” mused Bobby, “is why that technique worked so well!” His instructor gave a big grin, “The only defense for that technique, no matter what art you study, is for your opponent to grab your left arm.

Al Case has examined martial arts over 40+ years. He knows lots of Clever Tricks, like the one you just read about. Stop by Monster Martial Arts and pick up a free ebook.